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Aviation History
1981
1981 - 3061.PDF
mwf? wBmBmBBRBm MDF-100 shape begins to emerge THE MDF-100 short/medium-haul airliner looks as if it will have twin aisles, a T-tail, and four-wheel main bogeys to allow landing on low-stress runways. This information has just been released by the McDonnell Douglas/Fokker project team follow ing extensive consultations with US and European airlines, but talks with Australian and Far East airlines con tinue. The MD/Fokker team are pressur ing the engine manufacturers by stat ing the exact thrust required— 23,4001b—and requiring "specific fuel consumption characteristics more advanced than even the latest engines committed to production, and engine certification in late 1985." The manu facturers claim that for this particu lar 150-seat airframe, the high T-tail "offers a significant fuel saving," which is interesting because Boeing had decided the reverse when finalis ing its 757 and 767 designs. Airline response to the proposals has been "encouraging," the com panies say. Their plan, like that of Airbus for the A320, is to go for a firm launch decision by the year's end. Skyship 500 maiden flight AIRSHIP INDUSTRIES flew its Sky ship 500 from Cardington, Beds, on September 28, with four people on board. During the 2hr maiden flight, Cdr Nick Bennett performed low over shoots at nearby Cranfield and Thur- leigh before making an uneventful mooring back at Cardington. Bennett tells Flight that the airship was "very stable in cruise," with well- balanced controls. Skyship 500 achieved a maximum speed of 44kt, and reached 1,400ft. A description of the airship appeared in Flight, Sep tember 26, page 938. Boeing's first 757 above and Airbus Industrie's first A3I0 are at an almost identical stage of construction. The 757's first flight will be in late February 1982, and the A3IO's in late March Vought bids for Grumman LING-TEMCO-VOUGHT has opened negotiations to buy out Grumman with a $450' million offer for 70 per cent of the company's shares, with the intention of buying the remaining 30 per cent later. Grumman stock closed at $26-75 the day before the offer of $45 per share. The bid put a large premium on the shares, which rose by $9 the following day. Grumman says publicly that it is "studying the offer," but re ports indicate that its board is against the tender. If the bid is successful, and is not blocked by anti-trust con siderations, LTV will merge its own Vought Corporation with Grumman, under the leadership of Grumman's present chairman, John C. Bierwirth. The Department of Defence says that it is looking at the implications of a merger between the two major defence contractors, who say that no form of action has been taken to sus pend the LTV offer to Grumman shareholders, which is effective until October 23. LTV believes that there will be no DoD opposition to the merger, saying that it will increase rather than re duce competition in military aircraft manufacture. The company's argument is that an LTV-owned Grumman and Vought company would be better able to compete with major contractors such as Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. Grumman and Vought individually have been unable to do so. LTV plans to maintain Grumman and Vought manufacturing and de sign activities in their present loca tions. Shuttle launch latest NASA is now talking about a "late October or early November" launch for the second Space Shuttle mission. A firm date should be announced in the second week of October. Nasa is to conduct its repairs (see page 1018 of this issue) on the pad. European Directory — final call THOSE who want to be included in the new Flight International Direc tory of European Aviation must sub mit relevant information by October 9. If you are a mainland Europe avia tion company, flying club, air-taxi operator, airport, aviation-related government department or trade organisation, or even worthy of an entry in the Who's Who section, you can telex us on 299412 MALCOM G until the above date. The directory will be published in March 1982 at £20. FLIGHT International, 3 October I9SI 981
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